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Tehran (AFP) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday recalled the devastating war between Iran and Iraq, calling for unity in the face of economic difficulties and American pressure.
"Today, the government is in the front line, it is an economic, psychological and propaganda war," Rouhani told state television.
"We had a good day and we had difficult days during the sacred defense," he said, using the official name of the war against Iraq that claimed the lives of two million people. between 1980 and 1988.
"But our country has never receded, now our country will not bow to the pressure of a new group in the White House."
The Iranian economy has been battered in recent months, in part because of Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, which lifted the sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its atomic program.
Prices are rising and shortages are widespread, while the Iranian currency has lost about 70% of its value against the dollar compared to the same period last year.
Rouhani said the US is pressuring Iran while calling for "every day" talks.
"Which one should we believe in? Your messages or brutal acts, if you want the best for the Iranian people, why are you putting pressure on them?"
Rouhani called for unity after weeks of pressure from reformist and extremist factions on managing the economic crisis.
"We can not fight America, the left and the right at the same time, we can not fight on three fronts," he said.
The president also acknowledged the growing economic pressure.
"(Yet) we can not shrink from our goals because of temporary difficulties – remember those days (of war), our sorrows brought us to eventual victories."
Mr. Rouhani made the remarks during an event called Mohammad-Ali Rajai, the second Iranian president, whose assassination in August 1981 was blamed on the group of political activists Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
